Xiyuan Teahouse Ornatus Interior Thearii by Cao Sun

Xiyuan Teahouse Ornatus Interior Thearii by Cao Sun is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Designatio Interior Competition Category.

ArgentumInterior· 2026

Xiyuan Teahouse Ornatus Interior Thearii

by Cao Sun

Client: Nova Space Design

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Interior Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #174659

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Xiyuan Teahouse Ornatus Interior Thearii

Xiyuan Thearium est spatium interius thearii iuxta Lacum Occidentalem in urbe Hangzhou in Sinis situm. Spatium mille quingentorum metrorum quadratorum complectitur suggestum theanum centrale elevatum, octo conclavia privata, scalas aeneas sculptorias cum cancellis ligni viridis insertis, atque opus aquarium cum ambitu naturali coniunctum. Bracteae ligneae manu factae parietesque gypsei coloris pallidi per totum spatium adhibentur. Fenestrae marginibus propriis confectae prospectus ad lacum aperiunt. Via circularis ambulandi hospites lente per conclavia ducit. Consilium aestheticam Orientalem traditam ad hospitium modernum accommodatam denuo interpretatur.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

Xiyuan Teahouse Ornatus Interior Thearii victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Xiyuan Teahouse Ornatus Interior Thearii opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Xiyuan Teahouse Ornatus Interior Thearii creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This project reinterprets Oriental aesthetics through modern spatial language, blending symbolic elements, nature inspired materials, and layered spatial planning. Located by West Lake, it integrates landscape, function, and narrative to provide guests with a serene, immersive cultural experience. Its sculptural staircase, window-framed views, and poetic detailing create a unique sense of ritual and emotional resonance.
Dimensions & Packaging: Total built area: 1500 square meters. Key spatial components include an elevated central tea platform, eight distinctive private rooms, a sculptural bronze staircase, and a landscape integrated water feature. Window systems are custom framed to optimize views and natural lighting. Materials are chosen to enhance symbolic and sensory experience.
Tags: Oriental Aesthetics, West Lake, Tea Culture, Immersive Space, Cultural Memory, Landscape Integration, Bronze Staircase, Handcrafted Materials, Poetic Space, Spiritual Retreat
Production Technology: The teahouse features handcrafted wood veneers, bronze clad spiral stairs with inlaid greenwood railings, artisanal light toned plaster walls, and custom crystal acrylic tea sculptures. Spatial planning follows a loop circulation strategy, optimizing lake views and operational efficiency while reinforcing the natural and cultural dialogue of the interior.
Design Challenge: The core challenge lay in reinterpreting traditional Eastern aesthetics in a modern hospitality context without resorting to pastiche. Balancing symbolic depth with operational needs, integrating natural and built landscapes, and addressing tourist engagement within a historically significant setting required careful design logic and cultural sensitivity.
Research: Design research began with site analysis and historical study of Wang Yutai Tea House and literati traditions. Methodology included archival review, interviews, and spatial simulations. Participants included hotel operators, historians, and tea masters. Insights informed symbolic design, spatial zoning, and sensory elements. Results strengthened cultural resonance and guest engagement.
Inspiration: The design was inspired by the century old heritage of the Wang Yutai Tea House and the refined literati lifestyle of West Lake's past. From the "West Lake Moon Gatherings" to the tranquil tea rituals, the project revives cultural memories through spatial storytelling, aiming to reconnect modern life with traditional Eastern ideals of beauty, balance, and contemplation.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2024 in Hangzhou, China and finished in October 2024.
Operation Flow: The design encourages slow paced, reflective engagement. Visitors enter through a symbolic gateway and follow a circular path that reveals lake views, private rooms, and shared tea platforms. Seating and height variations allow layered interaction with the scenery. The flow fosters both intimacy and openness, enhancing spiritual and sensory experiences.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.